“Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known. ” 

― Garrison Keillor, Lake Wobegon U.S.A.

Everyone needs a dose of good luck now and then. Some don’t believe in luck; they say it’s preparation that meets opportunity. But there’s no denying when we’re graced by its presence. We’re aided out of a bind as if by magic. The seas seem to part. Life opens up in new ways, and we feel a touch of the divine on our shoulders.

Astrologically, the jovial, philosophical sign of Sagittarius is considered “lucky,” as is its ruling planet, Jupiter. Both are expansive, growing, and learning-oriented. They remind us to look at the bigger picture and to seek new horizons. 

On this particular New Moon, the Sun and Moon at the very start of Sagittarius form a supportive trine to Jupiter Retrograde at the tail end of Pisces. We’re adaptable and fluid, open and engaging. The world, if just for a moment, feels ripe with potential. Healing, the bridging of worlds, is available. 

Anatomically, Sagittarius represents the hips and thighs and the liver, all common holding places for stored and stuck emotion, specifically unprocessed anger. 

Opening up these areas through extended restorative holds of Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose),

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (One-Legged Pigeon Pose)

or even Balasana (Child’s Pose) can be incredibly beneficial in harnessing the energy available on this fortuitous New Moon. We release, and we open. It’s the spaciousness itself that allows for unexpected magic and flow. 

Sagittarius is a Mutable Fire Sign. Instinctive, action-oriented, and spontaneous, it’s also known to preach a thing or two, testing others with its philosophical provocations and preaching from the pulpit. Humility and admitting fault or mistake do not come easily to this adventurous sign. And yet, they’re the jesters of the Zodiac, holding up a mirror to our absurdities through satire and humorous rants. Actually, this sign governs storytelling in a myriad of forms, from journalism to filmmaking, which is why you’ll find so many famous directors (Spielberg comes to mind) who fall under this sign. 

Which brings us back around to luck. What makes one lucky? What constitutes a lucky life? Well, like beauty, it’s very much in the eye of the beholder. Perspective is everything. Timing, too. Things this sign just seems to have a knack for. It’s the openness, the willingness to take the risk and jump right in, and the desire to live life to the fullest that lands it on its feet.

When we’re too in our heads, too enmeshed in old ways of being and doing, and unwilling to see the world anew, we lose sight of all the avenues available in the current moment. It takes a certain level of wisdom to embrace the unknown and leap, to see the world as it is and choose it anyway. 

As we move into and through this Holiday season, let’s take a moment to explore our beliefs and the ideas that provide framework, meaning, and purpose. Do we believe, for example, that the world is benevolent or harsh, that things have a way of working out, or that we’re ultimately at the mercy of some unknown cosmic force? Likely, our beliefs contain some contradictions, layered with complex thoughts and feelings. Still, unpacking them is a wise endeavor, leading to higher consciousness, expansion, and possibility, the very essence of “luck.”